Editorial
(24 December, 2025)
As the Christmas approaches
The birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is a critical part of the faith of those who believe in Him. Even beyond such believers, the birth of the Saviour is a landmark shift in the human calendar. Christianity teaches us that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, Mary, in the little town of Bethlehem in Judea, Israel, but now under the administration of the Palestine Authority.
Quite interestingly, the day of His birth is not certain. While what could be loosely described as ‘Western Christianity’ (for those in the UK, Germany, Ireland, Canada, France, and Italy; most of Africa, among others) choose 25 December, the Eastern Orthodox Church (those in Greece, Serbia, Russia, among others) choose 7 January, even as the Armenian Church, a.k.a. the Armenian Apostolic Church (established as the first Christian state religion in 301 AD and the national church of Armenia) chooses 19 January as the Lord’s day of nativity.
Of all these dates, 25 December celebrations, which came into being for the first time in AD 336 under Pope Julius 1, even though it is said to be historically incorrect by some authorities, seems to be the one followed by most of the world. But the fact of Scripture shows clearly that Jesus Christ never celebrated His birthday, or instructed that it be celebrated, and for about 300 years of Christianity, there was nothing called Christmas in the Christian calendar; which is why the early post-Apostolic Christian writers like Iranaeus (c. 130 – 2000), Tertullian (c. 160 – 225), and Origen of Alexandria (165 – 264) never as much as mentioned it in their writings.
However, while the originators of the idea of celebrating the birthday of the Saviour of mankind missed the date of his birth, it could be assumed that their intention was to honour the Lord, especially when the pagan practice of Saturnalia (a period of hedonistic excesses originally celebrated on 25 December) is considered. Yet, there are aspects of the celebration we must draw serious attention to.
It is not clear why the day on which many say they are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ is also used by many of the same people to go into lasciviousness, debauchery, quarrelling over food, clothes, drinks and other merriments, which do not honour the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, the attitude of hiking transport fares, prices of goods and services at this season, attending to daily activities pell-mell, indicates that many have forgotten the Reason for the season. The focus on the mundane should give way to the life and times of the Lord of the season. It is necessary to go beyond the dances, shopping, visitations, and travels to living the way He has commands to do.
To the credit of some Christian denominations, even though they may not accept the day, yet have used the season to teach more about the reason why Jesus came as God in human form. They use the period to challenge their parishioners to show more concern for the less-privileged, share in the struggles of the vulnerable, and above all, encourage them to live for the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved them so much that He willingly submitted his life at the end of His life’s mission here on earth for the salvation of sinners.
With insecurity reigning over our land, WatchmanPost calls on security agents to be extra vigilant at this time, especially around Christian gatherings to forestall any breach of the peace. Islamists have used this season in the past to wreak havoc on hapless Christians, just for being believers in the Lord Jesus. In Plateau State, no fewer than 200 casualties were reportedly recorded following a coordinated massive attack by Fulani Islamists on the villages of Barkin Ladi, Bokos and Mangu between 23 and 25 December, 2024. Unfortunately, the military was accused of aiding and abetting the slaughter. Up until now, nothing seems to have been done by the authorities to bring the culprits to book. A similar attack was recorded in Southern Kaduna about the same time, with scores of Christians killed. On 5 January 2025, Islamists killed a pastor. There was the Christmas bombings of Ungwan Rukuba and Gada Biyu in Jos, Plateau State, in 2010, and the one of 2011 on St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State. There was an attack on Goska community in Jema’a LGA of Southern Kaduna, where 20 persons were killed and hundreds were displaced, with little done by the government for the victims. There was also the killings in Gboko LGA of Benue State during this period in 2024.
We, therefore, endorse the alarm raised by a coalition of civil society organisations and human rights advocates on 19 December, 2025, calling on security agents to protect Christians against attacks by Islamists this season. Our reason is clear. Since 2010, as the group rightly recalled, the Christmas season has often been exploited by Islamists to kill, maim, and rape Christians, especially in parts of the North of this country.
We also call on the Federal Government to go beyond the usual Christmas messages to Christians, to look into the plight of the displaced Nigerians languishing in internally displaced persons’ camps all over the country. No country ever progresses walking through the blood of its innocent citizens. The government should also go after those calling for dialogue with the terrorists, while ignoring the gross physical harm they have caused to Nigerians, the losses in ransom payments, agricultural produce, and loss of liberty of victims of terror.
Happy Christmas celebrations dear readers, and may the season not witness any evil in our homes, state and country!
